So, I’ve been in the job market for a bit over a year. I was part of a layoff cycle in my last company, and finding a new gig has been difficult. I haven’t been able to find something as of yet, but it’s been a learning curve. The market is not what it has been in the last couple of years. With AI in the mix, lots of roles have been eliminated, or have shifted towards where human intervention is needed to interpret or verify the data AI is interpreting. Job hunting is a job in an of itself, and may even take a 9 to 5 role. I know of a lot of people who have gone through the same process as myself, and wanted to share some of insights and tips from what I’ve learned throughout the last year.
Leveraging your network
First, and I think most important, is to understand that there’s a lot of great people around that you might have worked with. You can always ask for recommendations, touch base, or even have a small chat to see how things are going on their end. Conversations can be very refreshing, and can help you get a new perspective as how the industries are shifting, where you might want to learn new skills, or how to improve your positioning in the market. Folks can talk around and see if there’s additional positions where you might be a good fit, and it’s always good to have a helping hand (or a few). At the end of the day, these folks are your own community. I’ve gotten roles in the past by being referred, and these connections have been critical for my understanding of how different businesses may approach the same problem, or even to solve internal conflicts. So, reach out to people you know!
Understanding the market
Like I mentioned in the opening paragraph, the market is evolving constantly. AI has taken a very solid role nowadays, and lots of companies ask about how you’ve used AI recently. Part of understanding the market is understanding the bleeding edge tools that are used to improve workflows and day-to-day efficiency. Research tools that are coming up, and that are shaping the market.
To give you an example. Haven’t tried AI yet? Give it a spin, even for simple questions. Understand where it works, where it fails, and how you, as a human, can make it work for you. Get a sense of the pitfalls, and where human intervention is needed to interpret or verify the data that’s in there. Like one of my former managers said, “trust, but verify”. Or, you can even get to the point of not trusting the data, and sharing that as a story!
Apply thoughtfully
Someone gave me the recommendation to apply to everything that I see where I “could be a fit”. While this might have its upsides, you might also end up in situations where you are not actually a fit, or where you don’t know the company and what it does. Always take the time, at least a few minutes, to understand the company that you’re applying for, research their values, and how they align to yours. Read about the product they’re creating, selling, or offering, and see if it’s a product where you could contribute your skills. Then, you can make the decision of applying. While doing this you may discover that you are applying to a position in a sector that you’re not interested in, or where your skillset might not be used to its full potential. And you might be missing out on some other opportunities that are significantly more aligned to you.
Also take the time to fully review the job description. JDs are pretty descriptive, and you might stumble upon certain details that don’t align with yourself, such as the salary, hours, location, or certain expectations that you might feel don’t fit within the role or that you are not ready for.
Prepare for your interviews
You landed an interview – congratulations! Make sure that you’ve researched the company before heading in. If you’ve taken a look at the company and the role before applying, take a glimpse again. You might find more interesting things, and it will demonstrate that you are actually preparing yourself for the interview. Also, interviewing is a two-way street. Make sure that you have some questions at the end. Double-check the role of your interviewer in the company, and ensure that you have questions that are tailored to their particular roles. Think about what you want to get from the interview (other than the job!).
Job sourcing
There are many great job sources today – LinkedIn being the biggest of all of them. Throughout my searches I’ve also found weworkremotely.com and hnhiring.com are great sources. I strongly advise that you expand your search and find sources that are relevant to your particular role or industry. This has opened up a lot of opportunities for me!
Take some time for yourself
I know that having a job is important. However, it’s also important to take time for yourself. Your mental health is important. You can use this time to develop some skills, play some games, take care of your garden, or even reorganize your home. Find a hobby and distract yourself every now and then. Take breaks, and ensure you’re not over-stressing yourself. Read a bit about burnout, and take care of yourself, as burnout can also happen from job hunting. And if you need a breather, make sure you take one, but don’t overdo it! Time is valuable, so it’s all about finding the right balance.
Hopefully this is helpful for some folks that are going through my same situation. What other things have worked for you? Do you have any other tips you could share? I’d be happy to read about them! Share them with me on LinkedIn. I’m also happy to chat – you can always find me at jose@ubuntu.com.
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